Weight gain linked to heart risk

The speed at which children gain weight gives a strong indication of their risk of heart disease in later life, British research has shown.

The rate of weight gain between the ages of two and 11 is more closely related to coronary problems than actual body weight at any age, according to a study funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

This means that children at risk of future heart disease are "effectively invisible", according to Professor David Barker of the University of Southampton, who led the research.

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"You wouldn't be able to pick them out immediately in a primary school classroom as being at risk. You would need to monitor their body weight over a longer period", he explained.

The researchers analysed the medical records of more than 8000 people in Finland. They found that a small birth size, thinness at two years, and a high body mass at 11 years were all associated with a later risk of heart disease.

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Scientists believe the link between weight gain in childhood and heart disease risk is related to insulin processing in adulthood. Insulin is a hormone that regulates how the body breaks down carbohydrates and produces fat.

Children who gain weight quickly seem to be resistant to the effects of insulin, making them more prone to heart disease in adulthood.

Professor Barker explained: "Slow early development and undernutrition in the womb may programme a 'thrifty' metabolism, which includes insulin resistance that becomes inappropriate with adequate or excess nutrition in childhood".

The team also found that more rapid growth in babies before the age of two was linked to a lower risk of coronary problems.

The BHF's medical director Peter Weissberg said the research should contribute to the body of evidence that "guides healthcare advice and services from the womb to the grave".

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